Does unemployment pay child support - Washington ESD taking money from benefits?

Yes, Washington ESD will automatically deduct child support from your unemployment benefits if there's an active garnishment order. The Division of Child Support (DCS) works directly with ESD to withhold payments. You should have received notice about this when your claim was processed.

this happened to me too last year when i was on unemployment. they took like half my check every week for child support i didnt even know about. you need to call washington esd and find out whats going on

The child support garnishment is handled through the state's automated system. Once DCS has your Social Security number and knows you're receiving unemployment, they'll set up the withholding. You should contact DCS directly at 1-800-457-6202 to discuss payment arrangements or modifications if you're having financial hardship.

I went through this exact situation 6 months ago. Washington ESD will show the child support deduction on your payment summary each week. The money goes directly to the Washington State Support Registry and then gets distributed according to your case. You won't see that money in your deposit.

this is so unfair they take money when you already barely getting enough to live on!! how are we supposed to survive while looking for work if they taking half our benefits

You should check your SecureAccess Washington account to see if there are any pending issues or notices about garnishments. Sometimes the information shows up there before you get mailed notices.

been dealing with this for months now. they take $180 out of my $360 weekly benefit. had to move back in with my mom because i couldnt afford rent anymore. its rough but at least my kids are getting their support

If you need to speak with someone at Washington ESD about how the garnishment affects your claim, I'd definitely recommend trying Claimyr. When I had questions about my child support withholding, I couldn't get through their regular phone lines for weeks. Claimyr got me connected to an actual ESD agent within an hour.

also make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even if they taking child support out. some people think theres no point but you still need to certify to keep getting whatever amount is left

One important thing to note - if you have multiple child support cases or owe support to different custodial parents, Washington ESD will coordinate with DCS to handle all the withholdings. The total can't exceed the federal maximum, but it could still be substantial.

Check if your ex filed for public assistance too. If she's getting TANF or food stamps, the state might be taking extra to reimburse those programs. That happened to my buddy and he was shocked how much they were taking.

Remember that the child support withholding from your unemployment benefits will show up on your year-end tax documents. The amount withheld is still considered income to you for tax purposes, even though you didn't receive it directly.

Make sure you understand the difference between current support and arrears payments. Current support is what you owe each month going forward. Arrears is the back support you mentioned owing. They'll usually take a portion for each.

i hate dealing with all this bureaucracy when youre already stressed about money. tried calling washington esd so many times about my garnishment questions and kept getting disconnected. finally used that claimyr thing someone mentioned earlier and actually got answers

whole system is messed up. they want you to find work but then take half your benefits so you cant even afford gas to go to interviews

Quick question - does the child support garnishment affect your eligibility for extended benefits or federal programs? I'm worried about losing other assistance.

Thanks everyone for all the information. Sounds like I need to call both Washington ESD and DCS to get the full picture. Might try that Claimyr service if I can't get through on my own. Really appreciate all the help - this is a stressful situation and you've all made it clearer.

One last tip - keep records of all your child support payments, including what gets withheld from unemployment. You'll need documentation if there are ever disputes about payment history or if you need to modify the order later.

hope it all works out for you. dealing with child support and unemployment at the same time is really tough but youll get through it

Final reminder - if your employment situation changes or you find new work, make sure to update both Washington ESD and DCS immediately. The garnishment arrangements may need to be adjusted based on your new income level.

Just wanted to add that if you're having trouble making ends meet with the reduced benefits after child support garnishment, you might want to look into local food banks and community assistance programs. Many areas have resources specifically for people dealing with unemployment and family support obligations. Also, some utility companies have hardship programs that can help keep your lights on while you're getting back on your feet. Don't be afraid to ask for help - that's what these programs are there for.